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rank

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noun

1
as in ranking
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement attained the highest rank in the Freemasons

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in row
a series of people or things arranged side by side rank upon rank of cavalry came thundering down the hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

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rank

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adjective

1
as in rampant
growing thickly and vigorously covered with trumpet vines so rank you couldn't see the trellis beneath them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word rank distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of rank are fetid, fusty, malodorous, musty, noisome, putrid, and stinking. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

How do fusty and musty relate to one another, in the sense of rank?

Both fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic
the musty odor of a damp cellar

When is malodorous a more appropriate choice than rank?

The synonyms malodorous and rank are sometimes interchangeable, but malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

In what contexts can noisome take the place of rank?

While the synonyms noisome and rank are close in meaning, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

When might putrid be a better fit than rank?

Although the words putrid and rank have much in common, putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

How are the words stinking and fetid related as synonyms of rank?

Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells
the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rank
Verb
The Pop Airplay chart ranks songs by weekly plays on more than 150 mainstream top 40 radio stations monitored by Mediabase, with data provided to Billboard by Luminate. Gary Trust, Billboard, 10 Sep. 2025 Despite all this fresh blood and Cronenworth’s all-around utility, the Padres entered Tuesday ranked 15th in the majors in slugging percentage since the trade deadline. Dennis Lin, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
The Saudi leader wants to see the capital rank among the world's top 10 city economies by 2030. Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025 Trump’s aggressive effort to reshape the Fed’s top ranks. Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Cosby’s good guys do things that outpace the rankest villainy in the work of other crime writers. Vulture Editors, Vulture, 8 July 2025 Just last week, as millions of Americans took to the skies, June 27 and June 29 now rank as the seventh and eighth busiest days respectively in TSA history, pushing 2025 to claim six of the agency's top 10 busiest days on record. Doc Louallen, ABC News, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for rank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank
Verb
  • Athletique There is something edgy yet soft about a funnel-neck in a technical fabric—lean in and pair a wind- and water-resistant shell with trousers and sneakers for a touch of sport, or style it with a pencil skirt and kitten heels for a more feminine feel.
    Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2025
  • There are multiple ways to use the Hair Steamer, depending on your hair and preferences.
    Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Forbes classifies Ellison–who bought nearly all of the Hawaiian island Lanai for $300 million in 2012–as a California resident based on his voter registration.
    Ella Malmgren, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Arguing that relocation can stem the loss of biodiversity, the government has classified some islands used by Nicobarese tribals as wildlife sanctuaries.
    M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Earlier this week, in partnership with data firm Statista, Newsweek published its ranking of World's Best Smart Hospitals 2026.
    Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Although there was a lot of buzz about Nelson’s arrival in the offseason because of his recruiting ranking, Maddux Madsen won the starting job going into the 2024 season.
    Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Forged by a history of exile and persecution, Jewish Americans have consistently championed dignity and equality.
    Andrew Weinstein, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
  • There is nothing but dignity, and hardworking people unjustly being attacked.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • That Tory commands such high wattage front row attendees speaks to how much her brand and fashion resonates with women.
    Blue Carreon, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • For the second season in a row, the San Francisco 49ers are being hit hard by key injuries.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Rare earths are a category of minerals that are critical for a swath of products from cars to semiconductors.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Skin Care Shop your favorite category or keep scrolling for the year's very best face creams, cleansers, and serums.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This rampant, unauthorized AI use degrades the educational experience of individual students who overly rely on the technology and those who wish to avoid using it.
    Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Speculation remains rampant that those three ACC schools will leave that league before the end of this decade for the SEC or Big Ten.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This is about a team with a top-10 payroll whose GM committed too stinking much of it to dogs that can’t, or won’t, pull the sled.
    Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2019
  • Muttaiah said the man inside the stinking manhole was working without any safety equipment — no gloves, no shoes, no supplemental oxygen.
    Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2019

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Cite this Entry

“Rank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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